Tag Archives: holiday

Attractions, Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Getaways: Newcastle

A well-deserved holiday is never far away, and Quingo Scooters are on hand to help you plan it! There are so many unique spots around the UK, which you can visit easily as a mobility scooter, providing you with memories you’ll cherish for ever. It’s no easy task whittling these choices down, when looking for that next fabulous location to visit, so we’re revealing our top suggestions for accessible getaways!

You might want to wrap up warm, as this week we’re taking you up North! The region’s beating heart of Newcastle is a top getaway destination. It features a range of cultural attractions and it’s one of the UK’s most accessible cities, giving you so much to see and do.

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Welcome to Newcastle

Situated in scenic Tyneside, Newcastle is famous the world over for its friendly people, who are sure to welcome you to their city. Not only is the region home to breath-taking sites, such as the legendary ‘Angel of the North’ statue, it also features various accessible attractions, including:

  • Jesmond Dene Park: If you’re looking for an oasis of peace, Jesmond Dene Park is for you. Based just outside Newcastle city centre, Jesmond Dene Park features both native and exotic trees, as well as wildlife such as Kingfishers and Red Squirrels, and a café which serves tasty treats. Free to enter, the park is accessible, with accessible routes located throughout.
  • Discovery Museum: Delve into the history of Newcastle at the Discovery Museum. Opened in 1993 the Museum, which is located Blandford Square and is free to enter, houses maritime and science related attractions such as the iconic Sturbina steam ship – once the fastest on earth! All its floors have level access and there are lifts and accessible toilets across the site.
  • Theatre Royal: There’s no better place to catch a show than Newcastle’s Theatre Royal. The space, located on Grey Street, hosts everything from thrilling stage adaptions to fun musicals. You can find ticket prices on the what’s on page of the Theatre’s website and it’s really accessible with level access, lifts and accessible spaces in its stall, grand circle and upper circle seats.
  • Laing Art Gallery: For culture enthusiasts, the Laing Art Gallery is a must-see attraction. A few streets away from the Theatre Royal, it is free to visit, although there may be charges for some exhibits. Here you’ll discover British oil paintings, watercolours, ceramics, silver and glassware from across the ages. There is level access into the building and it has a lift up to the first floor.
  • Seven Stories: If you’re travelling with children, Seven Stories on Lime Street is well worth a visit. Billed as ‘the national centre for children’s books,’ this space brings iconic tales to life with readings, exhibitions and more. Ticket prices vary for adults and children of different ages, but these can be found here. Seven Stories has accessible parking, level access and lifts to all floors.

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Navigating Newcastle

It’s easy to travel to, and around Newcastle. The best way to reach the city is to catch a train to Newcastle Train Station, which is based at the centre of this scenic metropolis. When it comes to getting around, there’s no better way than the Tyneside and Wear Metro, which is a very affordable travel option. Its trains are fully accessible, with either lifts or ramps at all stations for ease of access.

Newcastle’s has a wide range of accessible hotels. Our top pick is the Royal Station Hotel on Neville Street, based near the train station. Known for its grand Victorian façade, the Hotel includes sumptuous period interiors, but modern, minimalist rooms, making for an interesting contrast. Accessible rooms in the Royal Station Hotel are available upon request and it also boasts a fantastic restaurant which has become popular for its elegant afternoon teas and delicious Sunday carvery’s.

The council of Newcastle are committed to promoting greater accessibility in their city. There are a variety of accessible parking bays dotted across Newcastle, which are open to blue badge holders, with a full list available at the parking in Newcastle section of the council’s website. Meanwhile, if you click here, you’ll find information on the public accessible toilets located across the city. With so much on offer, you’re sure to have a fabulous time if you choose Newcastle for your next getaway!

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters, Reviews

Where are Europe’s Five Most Accessible Cities?

Quingo Scooters encourages you to get out and see the world, from the comfort of your mobility scooter. Previously we’ve shared some great accessible getaways for you in different locations to try as a mobility scooter user. If you fancy going somewhere a little more continental, today we’re going to reveal the five most accessible cities in Europe.

Milan, Italy

The best European city for mobility scooters is Milan. The metropolis is not only an Italian fashion and cultural capital, but it won the City Access Award last year, showing that it’s made great strides to improve accessibility. Travelling to Milan is easy as Italy’s railways, as well as the city’s Linate and Malpensa airports are fully accessible. It boasts various accessible attractions, such as the Piazza del Duomo. This is near iconic sites such as Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall, where you can find shops from legendary Italian brands such as Prada as well as stylish bars and cafes.

Boras, Sweden

Sweden is a great country for mobility scooter users. In 2015 its government made lack of accessibility a new form of discrimination, and as a result great efforts have been made to make it much easier to get around. Sweden’s crown jewel is its second largest city, Boras. It has a range of “accessible hotels,” with an “accessible path of travel,” so it’ll be easy to find somewhere to stay. This lush city is known for its open green spaces like Ranmaparken, which includes paved paths, making it great for mobility scooter users. Various attractions in Boras, like its Textile Museum and City Theatre, are fully accessible, giving you plenty to see and do.

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Berlin, Germany

The German city of Berlin is the ideal getaway location for any mobility scooter user. It’s really easy to travel in Berlin as its buses, metro lines and taxis are all mobility scooter friendly. It also has wide pavements and both vocal and visual signals at road crossings. It’s hard to not find an accessible attraction in Berlin. All its top sites from Potsdam, the old Reichstag and Charlottenburg Palace, to Madame Tussauds and the Jewish Museum of Berlin, can be navigated easily with a mobility scooter.

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Barcelona, Spain

If you’re looking for blazing sun and fabulous artistic attractions, Barcelona is the place for you. This Spanish city’s metro stations are 80% accessible, while its buses are 100% accessible, so getting around won’t be a problem. We’d suggest that you take a shopping trip on the iconic Las Ramblas Street while in Barcelona, as it’s completely flat. In Barcelona, you can go to the front of the line as a mobility scooter user when seeing sites like the gorgeous Sagrada Familia church, which is also free to enter.

Manchester, UK

You don’t have to leave the UK for an accessible holiday as our very own Manchester is fantastic for anyone who uses a mobility scooter. The north-western hub has wide, smooth pavements making it easy to get around, while the majority of its bars and shops have step-free entrances. It also houses various mobility scooter-friendly attractions like Etihad Stadium and the Trafford Centre, while restaurants like El Gato Negro, which does Spanish Tapas, are some of the most accessible in the UK.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Holidays: Brickhouse Cottages

Here at Quingo Scooters we love browsing for holidays and getaways, and then having something to look forward to when you eventually book! In our accessible holidays series we’ve been discovering some of the best accessible holidays around, at home and abroad. This week we’re in Lancashire, at a little town called Poulton-Le-Fylde, with some homely holiday cottages.

Commonly abbreviated to Poulton, the market town is situated on a coastal plain called the Fylde. The town is immersed in history, as several archaeological finds from Roman settlement have been found there over the years. Nearby coastal towns of Fleetwood and Blackpool also make these cottages perfectly placed for a day out at the seaside.

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Brickhouse Cottages

Brickhouse Cottages were built by the Rainford family in 2012, inspired by the family’s youngest daughter who became disabled after being involved in an accident. They received such amazing support from their community during that difficult time that they wanted to give something back. After finding that many families like themselves were struggling to find holiday accommodation with adequate adaptations, they decided to try and make a difference. After 6 months of incredibly hard work, Brickhouse cottages opened their doors.

The family wanted the cottages to have a ‘home from home’ feel about them, in which they definitely succeeded. Aiming to accommodate all abilities, the family are always on hand to make your stay as comfortable as possible in any way they can.

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Accommodation

There are 8 luxurious cottages to choose from, depending on your requirements and group size. All of the cottages have these accessible features as standard:

  • Level access ground floor and patio garden area
  • 80cm doorways
  • Ground floor bedroom – complete with accessible dressing table, sliding wardrobe doors, appropriately positioned hanging rails and shelves, lowered light switches, raised sockets, touch lamps and a wall mounted TV with Freeview
  • In the bathroom – open-plan shower with grab rail, wash basin with mobility scooter clearance and toilet. Also available upon request are a self-propelled shower commode chair and an adjustable toilet surround
  • Modern kitchen – has side opening electric oven with a touch control electric hob, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, ample kitchenware and a lowered breakfast bar

Other facilities are available upon request, such as:

  • Ceiling hoists
  • Profile beds
  • Air-flow mattress
  • Night bed rails

A fantastic location for a short break away in the Lancashire countryside, the cottages provide a break that is as relaxing or as lively as you like. Simply sit back and enjoy the scenery, or take a trip to the next town of Blackpool for some seaside fun. 

Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible getaway, we’d be delighted to hear from you. You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters, Tips and Advice

How Do I Find an Accessible Holiday?

Quingo Scooters understand that when thinking about your next holiday or weekend away, there are certain things to consider for you and your mobility scooter. You want somewhere that can cater for your needs, be accessible and most importantly be comfortable for a relaxing time away.

So how do you find a holiday or short break that you know has everything you’ll need? In this post we’ll be sharing some of the best sites out there that can guarantee to find you exactly what you have in mind, or that can give you some holiday inspiration. There are some great accessible holiday sites out there, dedicated finding you accessible accommodation.

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Accomable

Srin and Martryn run Accomable. They are well known in the accessible tourism arena so they understand better than anyone what makes good accessible accommodation. With holiday accommodation not just in the UK but from around the world, this site enables you to explore that little bit further. Accomable has over 500 properties in 40 countries – so you’re sure to find somewhere new to discover!

Tip: Don’t forget to submit your email address to get the latest news, updates and special holiday offers delivered directly to your inbox!

Handiscover

Handiscover is unique in that it has a unique rating system, grading accommodation depending on your level of mobility. This community-based holiday booking platform is great in that it not only lists hotels but also apartments, houses and B&B’s. It’s really easy to use and user friendly, and there definitely isn’t a lack of in-depth information on each property listing.

Tip: Some properties can be booked directly from the Handiscover site, for extra easiness!

Limitless Travel

Angus runs Limitless Travel, and he’s really passionate about finding stress-free places to stay. The site is fairly new, but has a nice design and is easy to use. On here you’ll not only find places to holiday, but also accessible attractions.

Tip: Limitless Travel enables you to focus on one city at a time – this unique feature gives you comprehensive coverage of each city before moving on to the next.

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Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible getaway, we’d be delighted to hear from you. You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Holidays: Celebrity Cruises

There’s nothing better than having a nice holiday to look forward to! If you’re not sure what type of holiday you fancy – whether it be it a staycation, a beach holiday or a cruise – Quingo Scooters have been sharing some holiday ideas!

This week we have a bit of modern luxury to share with you, another cruise courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.  Consistently voted one of the top cruise lines in the world, you’re guaranteed to feel like a celebrity with accessible accommodation, award-winning gourmet dining and an impressive choice of destinations.

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Cruises

There are a number of different cruise ships and destinations, with many departing from the UK. You can travel to the historic Mediterranean, the picturesque Norwegian Fjords or the relaxing beaches of the Canary Islands. Whatever kind of destination and holiday you’re after, there’s definitely something to suit you.

Aboard the cruise ships you’ll be treated to first-class accommodation, live entertainment and most importantly a warm customer experience. All Solstice Class ships feature a real grass lawn, where you can enjoy picnics, open air concerts or simply relax with a drink.

In terms of food, the Lawn Club Grill (on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection) serves a great range of meats, as well as baking their own speciality breads. However there is much choice, with up to 12 eateries and cafes on each ship. There’s something to cater for whatever you’re fancying – from Tuscan Grille with their Italian flavours to modern French cuisine at Murano. There’s plenty to do at night aboard the ship with the ice-frosted Martini Bar, the casino and some chic nightclubs.

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Accessible accommodation

Every ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet has accessible staterooms with full mobility scooter access, which are designed to help accommodate your needs and ensure your comfort throughout your cruise. Wide, spacious corridors are designed to allow 180° turns for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Additionally there is step-free access and automatic doors on most decks.

All accessible stateroom doors are wider than standard and include ramped thresholds, lowered sinks, roll-in showers and bathroom grab bars. Showers include a fold-down stool and hand-held showerhead, with a raised toilet seat available if required. Some staterooms also include a fully accessible balcony.

When requesting an accessible stateroom, simply complete Celebrity Cruise’s Guest Special Services Form so that they can accommodate any other requirements you may have.

Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you’ve been on a cruise on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! Share your experience with us by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog!

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooters range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.